Carpio breaks silence, assures Sereno of support

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio

MANILA, Philippines–Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Monday he supports Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and his absence in the flag ceremonies at the Supreme Court does not mean anything.

In a chance interview, when asked if his absence in the flag ceremonies indicated his lack of support for Sereno, Carpio said “it depends on the predisposition of the individual justices [but] it doesn’t mean anything.”

“She is the Chief Justice; we support her,” Carpio told reporters.

Carpio and other Senior Associate Justices have not attended the flag ceremony since Sereno assumed the post as Chief Justice.

Carpio is the most senior associate justice of the Supreme Court and was the top contender to replace Renato Corona who was impeached last March.

“Don’t look at that [absence in the flag ceremony of the justices] too much. You look at the decisions. At the end of the day, you look at the decisions of the Supreme Court, how they vote, what decisions they took. I think, those are the things that are more important,” Carpio said.

Carpio and Sereno are both present at the 21st Search for Outstanding Judges and Clerks of Court at the Manila Hotel.